Investigation Continues into MBTA Fatality

The investigation into a fatality involving a Revere woman struck by an MBTA bus continues this week, with drug and alcohol tests on the driver of the MBTA bus that hit her coming back negative late last week.

State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk DA’s office – with the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, and troopers from the Revere barracks – are working with Revere Police and MBTA Transit Police to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the death last Tuesday night of 52-year-old Gayle Johnson on Broadway.

Based on evidence developed after the accident, investigators believe Johnson was struck somewhere in the vicinity of the Central Fire Station shortly before 7 p.m. by an MBTA bus that had been travelling along Broadway. She was dragged nearly one mile down the road, becoming dislodged from under the bus at the intersection of Broadway and Olive Street.

The bus was headed south on Broadway at the time of the collision.

Investigators were able to identify the 56-year-old driver of that bus in the aftermath of the collision. State Troopers spoke with him and attempted to interview him; he requested a lawyer. In their brief interaction, investigators did not observe him to show obvious signs of intoxication.

Pursuant to MBTA policy, the driver was subjected to testing for the use of drugs and alcohol. Pursuant to a subpoena, Suffolk prosecutors received the results of drug and alcohol tests administered to the driver. The results were negative for alcohol or illicit substances.

State Police crash reconstruction experts are working to determine the speed of the bus at the time of impact. State and local investigators are also retrieving video surveillance imagery from any agencies or establishments with cameras in the area.

“Since its first moments, this has been a careful and methodical investigation,” Conley said. “Ms. Johnson and her loved ones deserve nothing less than our best efforts.”